Mother’s Silence (Eleanor's POV)I stood in Starfang’s council hall, the torchlight casting eerie shadows across the stone walls. My eyes locked onto the holographic proof Vera sent—Lana’s messages to Selene, clear as day. My chest tightened. Could my niece really betray us? The early morning air felt heavy, my heart heavier.“Eleanor, what’s your call?” Gideon barked, his voice cutting through the silence. I glared at him, then back at the screen. “This could be manipulated,” I said, my voice firm. My maternal instinct screamed to protect Vera, but duty demanded proof.Vera stormed in, her leather jacket scuffed, emerald eyes blazing. “Mom, it’s real!” she pleaded, her voice breaking. I crossed my arms, shaking my head. “I need more than hacks, Vera. Prove your loyalty.” Her face fell, and my gut twisted.The pack murmured, I raised a hand, silencing them. “Enough!” My gaze stayed on Vera, her fists clenched. “You think I’d lie?” she shouted, stepping closer. I stayed silent, my
Betrayal’s Code (Vera's POV)I stormed into Starfang’s war room, my leather jacket still dusty from the fight, my moonstone necklace pulsing with rage. The holographic maps glowed blue, casting harsh shadows over Gideon’s stern face. “What happened out there?” he barked, his gray eyes narrowing. My heart pounded. How could I explain the mess with Lana?“Give me a sec,” I snapped, rushing to the console. My claws dug into the metal as I pulled up Moonveil’s network. Fingers working, I hacked into their files, my aura flaring green. The screen flickered, revealing encrypted messages. Lana’s name popped up. My blood boiled.“Vera, what’s that?” Gideon growled, stepping closer. I ignored him, diving deeper. Selene’s replies flashed—plans, secrets, betrayal. My cousin had sold us out. “Lana’s working with her,” I hissed, my map glitched, but the proof was clear.Gabriel strode in, his pine scent hitting me, his amber eyes steady. “Need help?” he asked, his hand landing on my shoulder.
Confession Under Fire (Gabriel's POV)The vault shook, debris raining down. I lunged, shielding Vera as a chunk of metal crashed beside us. My amber eyes glowed, heart pounding. Her wildflower scent hit me, her body pressed against mine in the flickering underground server room. The shard hologram pulsed ahead. Was this worth the risk?“Gabriel, watch out!” she yelled, pointing at a falling beam. I shoved her aside, grunting as it grazed my shoulder. Blood trickled, but I ignored it, pulling her up. “You okay?” I rasped. She nodded, emerald eyes wide. “Yeah. You?”“Fine,” I said, scanning the chaos. The server groaned, sparks flying. I had to tell her—now. “Vera, listen,” I started, voice raw. She frowned, brushing dust off her jacket. “What?”I took a breath, guilt clawing at me. “Nightmoor stole a shard from Starfang decades ago. My pack’s fault.” Her eyes narrowed, claws twitching. “I didn’t know then, but I’ve carried it.”She stepped back, anger flashing. “You hid this?” I no
Trapped in Code (Vera's POV)I hit the ground hard, a sharp pain shooting up my side. Gabriel’s arms cushioned my fall, his broad chest pressed against me in the dark. His pine scent flooded my senses, and my heart raced. The trap door had dropped us into Moonveil’s underground server room. “Vera, you okay?” Gabriel rasped, his amber eyes glowing faintly. I nodded, scrambling up, brushing dirt off my leather jacket. “Yeah. You?” He grinned, standing tall. “Tougher than that fall.” I turned to the server, its green lights blinking. “We need that shard,” I said, pulling out my device. My fingers flew over the keys, hacking into the system. Code streamed past, but then—bam—Selene’s virus struck back, locking me out. “Damn it!” I hissed, my aura flaring green.Gabriel growled, stepping in front. Five Moonveil guards charged, claws gleaming. He slashed at one, fangs bared, blood spraying. The other lunged, and he grunted, struggling. “Getting overwhelmed here,” he called, dodging a s
Into the Silver Web (Gabriel’s POV)I stood at the urban outskirts, neon lights casting shadows over Moonveil’s fortress. Vera led the raid, her leather jacket gleaming under the dusk glow, raven hair whipping in the wind. My heart swelled with pride along with a sharp stab of fear. She was fierce, unstoppable, but damn, this place screamed danger. Could we pull this off?“Jace, flank left,” I barked, claws flexing as I scanned the perimeter. My beta nodded, his dark hair bouncing, claws out and ready. Moonveil’s drones hummed overhead, their red eyes blinking. Then—static—our comms jammed. “Shit,” Jace growled, smashing a fist into a wall. “They’re blocking us.”I cursed under my breath, glancing at Vera. She hunched over her device, fingers flying, hacking into their defenses. Her emerald eyes narrowed, glowing faintly. “Almost there,” she muttered, but the screen flickered. Selene’s encryption hit back hard. My wolf snarled.A drone swooped low, lasers charging. I lunged, shovi
Echoes of the Shard (Vera's POV)I burst into the tech den, the notebook from the library clutched tight. I slammed the book onto the table, staring at the hacked data flickering on the holographic screens. Moonveil’s pack emblem stared back—a silver web over a crescent moon. My heart pounded. Can I track the third shard?The door creaked open. Pine scent hit me like a wave, and my wolf stirred. Gabriel strode in, his amber eyes locking onto mine. “I’ve got Nightmoor intel,” he said, voice low, holding out a data chip. My breath hitched, but I kept my face hard.“Hand it over,” I muttered, snatching it. His fingers brushed mine, sending a jolt up my arm. I glared, pulling back. Focus, Vera.I plugged the chip in, fingers flying over the keys. The screen lit up with Moonveil’s outer defenses—firewalls, traps, the works. I dove in, hacking fast, code streaming past. Then bam, a counter-virus slammed down, locking me out. My aura flared, frustration boiling. “Damn it!”Gabriel stepp